I watched the little one's face for most of the journey back. It worried me that it had yet to awaken since Mando's fight with the beast.

Had it known what is was doing back there? Did it know what it was capable of? What had happened to it?

My mind raced constantly over unanswered questions.

And then there was the Mandalorian. He tended to cause a whole new level of headache within my skull.

The rays from sun would often cause the Mandalorian's helmet to glint at me from across the child and I would have to turn away to recollect my thoughts.

"Is it still sleeping?" Kuill asked from atop the creature that pulled us.

Mando gazed down at the child. He reached out a gloved hand to place it on the side of the orb containing the little one, its face serene with slumber.

"Yes."

Mando's reply had me glancing up at him quickly. Although I may never see his face, I could sense his worry in that one word.

Kuill seemed to pause before continuing, concerned. "Was it injured?"

My eyes once again found the little one, my fingers gently taking its delicate hand in mine.

"I don't think so. Not physically," said the Mandalorian.

"Explain it to me again. I still don't understand what happened."

The Mandalorian sighed, turning to me. I don't know what he must have seen exactly staring back at him, but he replied quietly with, "Neither do we."

He replayed the scenario to the Ugnaught but I was lost in my own thoughts once again.

"The mercenaries…" I whispered.

Mando turned to me, silent. Looking from him to Kuill, I finally found my voice. "Kuill," I called. I noticed his head turn back in my direction as he listened. "The mercenaries that were holding the child before Mando arrived, they knew it was special. I don't know how or why but they were very clear about its value."

Kuill nodded. "This would explain why the Mandalorian was sent here."

Mando said nothing. He looked forward, his helmet never shifting in the setting sun.

I wanted to make sure he wasn't going to do what I feared and betray the little one, but I didn't know how to ask. He had evaded nearly all my questions already and had made it clear he wasn't too keen on talking about it.

A sour seed had been planted in my stomach and it wouldn't go away.

When we arrived back at the Mandalorian's ship, it was nearly dark. The Mandalorian shifted and I slowly withdrew my hand from the child's.

"There's no way we're going to get this to work without a full maintenance facility," Mando remarked. "This is gonna take days to fix."

I frowned slightly as I disembarked the transporter. His ship was horrendously bare. Too many panels were missing and the insides sparked with broken wires.

Kuill lit a light to shine on the dismantled craft. "If you care to help, it might go faster," he quipped back.

A light laugh escaped me at his comment, despite my growing worry regarding the child.

Mando's head jerked my way as he folded his arms across his heavily plated chest. Quickly ducking my head, I trained my eyes to watch Kuill as he went to rummage through the saved parts.

Mando sighed, leaning against the transport.

It was quiet for a few moments as Kuill went to the other side, leaving us in the cool night air.

I shifted my feet, trying to find the courage to confront the Mandalorian.

Trying to be discreet, I glanced up at his helmet quickly, keeping my face turned down. He was the true embodiment of intimidation. His dirty armor still shown slightly in the light of the night sky. I liked to think we had grown closer over the past few days, but I still felt as though I was being held at arm's length with him. He was facing the child once again, and it appeared he was contemplating something.

I swallowed. "Mando, I-"

"There is much work to do." The Ugnaught's commanding tone cut me off as he held a small piece of equipment out for the Mandalorian to take.

I could feel Mando's gaze on me, but after only a moment, he took the piece of scrap from Kuill and followed him onto the ship. The small floating orb trailed close behind him and I sighed, picking up some nearby parts to do the same.

Throughout the night, we helped to restore the Mandalorian's ship. Kuill was kind enough to give me jobs that were tedious, but necessary and not too intimidating for me to handle. The Mandalorian never strayed too far from Kuill and I couldn't help but wonder if it was to avoid being left alone with me.

The thought brought a frown to my face. What was he so afraid of?

To make matters worse, the little one never woke once during the night, no matter how loud the metal clangs and hammering became.

It was only when the sun began to rise again over the horizon that I noticed the absence of metal sounding in my ears.

I hastily finished cleaning up wires and debris from the ships floors and made my way towards the front of the ship. Kuill and Mando's voices were heard conversing quietly as I entered the cockpit.

"Oh, wow," I murmured, in awe of the view this standpoint gave of the sunrise. Not taking note of my presence, Mando pressed a series of buttons and the engines fired, sounding full and strong in the morning light. His helmet turned side to side, taking in each side engine before shutting the ship down.

"Well, well," Kuill smiled. "Looks like we did it." His face turned up to smile at me as well and I couldn't stop from returning the gesture.

However, the seed in my stomach only grew as Mando walked past us and made his way towards the back of the craft.

I followed silently behind Kuill and the child, my heart hammering in my chest. This was the moment I had been dreading. It had finally arrived.

The Mandalorian stopped just before we reached the ramp leading down from his ship. His cape softly brushed the floor behind him as he turned to Kuill.

"I can't thank you enough," The Mandalorian said. "Please allow me to give you a portion of the reward."

I looked to the ground.

"I cannot accept." A pause. "You are my guest and I am therefore in your service."

Mando appeared to accept his words before strolling over to stand closer to the child. But again, he only addressed Kuill.

"If you have changed your mind, I could use a crew member of your ability. And I can pay handsomely."

I raised my somber stare to Kuill and he regarded me quickly before lifting his pink chin to Mando.

"I am honored, but I have worked a lifetime to finally be free of servitude."

"I understand." The Mandalorian's tone was considerate. "Then all I can offer is my thanks."

"And I offer mine. Thank you for bringing peace to my valley."

I watched as they both turned to look out towards the vast planet through the ramp door. I felt the seed finally sprout and constrict around my crumbling heart. Was I just a fly on the wall?

Kuill began his descent down the ramp and suddenly I was left alone with the armored man.

"Mand-"

"You will stay here."

I felt my eyes grow wide as I nearly swallowed my tongue. "Wh-what?"

He turned to me then, his stance towering over me like a harsh cloud.

"Kuill has agreed to watch over you. You will remain here."

I felt the fire in my blood heat my cheeks. "But the child, I can help you watch over it! It was in my care long before you arrived, Mandalorian. I am so grateful for you, Mando, but I wouldn't get in your way, I-"

"You cannot come with me."

I couldn't keep the shock from my face. Of all the scenarios I had processed through my head, of all the late-night wondering, I never imagined him being to callous. Had I really been expecting to leave with him?

I looked to the sleeping little one, my little star.

"Mando, please think about this," I implored. "Whatever it is you were sent to do, wherever it is you are taking it, please reconsider."

I was only briefly aware of Kuill mounting his fish-like creature from below us.

When the Mandalorian said nothing, I continued. "We've seen what it can do. It saved us, Mando, and it's still in a coma because of it! You can't just take it to whoever paid you to get their grubby hands on it and not know what's going to happen once you leave, Mando."

My voice rang through the spacecraft and my eyes never left his visor. It felt like a millennium before he replied in his soft but stern voice.

"The child will not need you where it's going."

A strangled scoff left me. Nodding jerkily, I could feel the tears begin to burn behind my eyes in frustration. Of course.

I looked to the little one, trying to reign in my angry tears.

I felt like a robot as I mechanically walked to the little orb containing the precious child and crouched down. Running a gentle finger along its ear, I tried to smile through my pinched face.

"I'll miss you, my star," I whispered. "I'll never forget what you did."

Its sleeping face continued on, undisturbed.

Without wanting to lose myself further, I shot up to my feet and hurriedly wiped the tears that had escaped down my face.

I didn't want to look at the Mandalorian, so I instead chose to look at his feet. I quickly thought of all the things I could say and briefly considered grabbing the child and running. But all I could do as I stared at his metal boots was nod.

Quickly, I began my way towards Kuill. The ramp leading from the ship to him seemed endless in my state of mind, but Kuill gave me a gentle smile before holding a hand to me. Carefully taking it, I allowed him to lift me up behind him on his peculiar creature.

"It may not seem like it," he murmured to me, "but he's keeping you safe."

And what of the child? I wanted to say.

I tried to bring myself to look up but knew I wouldn't be able to stand seeing the kid, knowing I was leaving it behind.

Kuill's voice ran out strong and true once I was situated. "And good luck with the child. May it survive and bring you a handsome reward."

I grit my teeth as I tried to remain together. A thought raced through my mind briefly. I probably wouldn't stay with Kuill. I could allow him to take me away from this place, but I would move on afterwards. I doubted he would have any real use for me and I wouldn't force him to become my babysitter.

"I have spoken." At Kuill's words, he steered his creature away from the Mandalorian and his ship. It wasn't until we were well on our way and about to leave his line of sight that I found the strength to look back.

The Mandalorian was already gone.